http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/travelbuffs/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from travelbuffs en-us Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:33:08 BST Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:33:08 BST After a short hike with the little one yesterday all we ever planned was to camp in a beach relax.I've always loved the beach in Pacifica. It is close to civilization that was needed. You can never be overprepared with the little one.So we just drove parked set up our tentin a notsoprivate beach and RELAXEDI was not too happy with the fireworks photos. So with an intention to http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Half-Moon-Bay/blog-297067.html When July 4thWhere Foster cityWhat July 4th FireworksAt the 11th hour we dropped our plans to witness the fireworks at Eureka 300 miles from home. But we just could not miss seeing the fireworks.So we gladly accepted a friend's invitation to view one of bay area's better fireworksSF fireworks are the best if you did not know at Foster city.With the little one we could not imagine wading http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Foster-City/blog-297038.html First outing with our little one. Traveling with a baby is not as easy as I'd thought. If I remember to take a million things its possible to forget a zillion However we had the need. The need for travel.In all these years somehow we'd successfully managed to miss going to Fort PointThe amateur photographer in me always wanted to get the angle of Golden Gate from there. A sunny weather in s http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/North-Beach/blog-288721.html Where Fort Mason Center San Francisco CA What Pacific Orchid ExpoA significant push from the better half made me wake up early Sunday morning to attend this show. The day was a warm 70F...warm enough in San Francisco. The day was clear the skies were blue. What a day to spend in San FranciscoWe planned to drive into town hoping to find one spot in the hundreds available in the Center. Ala http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-252369.html We had a really tiring Feb 18th. After that the need to unwind rushed into the blood with 3 days off from routine we dashed to a place which we might not have thought of otherwise3 days in a resort among the RedwoodsWhere Avenue of the Giants NorCal.When 20th Feb 23rd Feb 2008Redcrest Resort is not the usual uptight resort community we'd expected. It is more like a rustic cabin withou http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Humboldt-Redwoods-State-Park/Avenue-of-the-Giants/blog-250014.html When 21st Dec 2007 1st Jan 2008Where CA NV AZAmerican southwest is always a personal favorite. So when our last minute plans to FL shut down we embraced ourselves to yet another trip to The Grand Canyon State. It was winter theme for the vacation was going to be Deserts. Well AZ is all desert you may say. But this trip was going to be desert all in all. We love the desertsAfter con http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/blog-232325.html Thanksgiving vacation found us in Western Nevada. Why There was nowhere else we could go. We'd pretty much covered every place we knew. But like anything unexpected it turned out to be a great trip.So here goes the details.22nd 24th November 2007Having ditched off all rental car plans we had to run our speed machine for a quick service. Thursday Nov 22nd 2007Plans to start at 600am got de http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Reno/blog-222891.html Vacation Labor Day weekend When 31st Aug 3rd Sep 2007Where Coastal Redwood Forests Northern CaliforniaMileage lt 1000 mi RTI initially planned this trip as a surprise for Ganesh but I could not hold the secret for too long. Fri 31st Aug Rented a compact car from Alamo San Jose Airport. Successfully overlooked a Chevy AveoSeriously why are those cars even manufactured only to settle http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/blog-199053.html June 20th Richardson highway to Wrangell NP. Richardson Highway Our first stop was not too far from Fairbanks. 20 miles away is North Pole where it is Christmas everyday at Santa Claus Haus. We were so glad we could meet Santa actually talk to him. He was very friendly. We thought we had to wait in line for a handshake. This was so cool. This part of the highway was so hot dry that we fo http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Valdez/blog-173947.html June 15th Anchorage is no more my favorite place in Alaska. I had no clue that the city was so crowded. Traffic bottlenecks everywhere. We were so glad that we were only passing by to get to Parks highwayhighway 3. And did I mention it was hot Boy it was unbearable.Parks HighwayHighway 3 Wasilla is a major city you can find everything from a Home Depot to a Walmart here.The road is prett http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-170136.html June 10th Boarded the American Eagle flight to Los Angeles. Nothing to mention except that we had no complaints. That was the first time I saw LAX immediately understood that it is as fast paced as the city itself. After a 3 hr walking in the airport we boarded DL 816 to Anchorage. LA was blanketed in fog. Once the airplane took off we came out of the fog there was this Sun as if it was t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/Seward/blog-169435.html A dream come true Words can seldom explain how I feel about this trip. I've been sitting with travel guides The Milepost for God knows how long The trip finally fell into place.When June 10th 25th 2007Where Alaska The Last FrontierWhat A taste of everything the 49th state has to offer for noncruise travelersFirst timers A 2 week vacation visiting the Last Frontier seeing NA tallest p http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Alaska/blog-158543.html When May 1920 2007Where Coastal Mendocino NorCalWhat Van Damme SP Mackerricher SPThe North coast is a little foggy cold in Summer. But if we wait for an ideal weather we'd be waiting for ever.I booked this campsite in Mackerricher SP simply because Russian Gulch Van Damme were filled up 1 month in advance.Coming to think of it we've never been to this part of the state at all.Give a pl http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Mendocino/blog-158541.html A 2005 MemorablogWhen Memorial weekend 2005Where Utah Colorado the Four Corners National MonumentWhat Covering all the most popular national parksThis was our first long trip as a couple. Utah inspired me the first time I even set foot there .And since we had around 910 days we wanted to cover Ganesh's favourite The Rocky Mountains too ItineraryDay 1 Delta flight to Salt Lake City UT. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Utah/blog-150387.html When Saturday 24th Mar 2007 Sunday 25th Mar 2007.What a relaxing weekend getaway to Hearst castle.Where California's central Southern coast.This trip was indeed a Peekaboo for Ganesh I planned this surprise trip for his birthdayas his birthday fell on a weekday we decided to celebrate it over the weekend. He did not know where we were going until later in the dayConsidering the occa http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Luis-Obispo/blog-142182.html Mon 19th February 2007 in SedonaEvery day so far has been tiring. Days zap by seeing doing so many things. Evenings fly off on the drive. Nights are just a memory. Navigating to our hotel in the dark was not very enthusiasticI think I woke up in the night often to the whistling of the train. Night was too dark to see any tracks. Thought would figure it out in the morning.Surprisingly I was f http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Flagstaff/blog-132125.html Date Visited Sunday 18th Feb 2007.Canyon de Chellypronounced Canyon de Shey is 3 hours NW of Holbrook. It is 104 miles E of Monument Valley AZ. Day started early. After the togo continental breakfast a spectacular sunrise we left Holbrook. The gas prices shocked me. A place such as Holbrook gives gas for 2.11 a gallon. California is a loooong way ahead Where is Canyon de ChellyGanesh w http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/blog-132124.html A 5 day vacation from Bay Area to Northern Arizona. So much we saw in 5 days is all very overwhelming. So this time I am going to split the whole vacation into relevant bits. So much to say so many photos to show too When Fri 16th Feb 2007 through Wed 21st Feb 2007Where Northern ArizonaWhat London Bridge The Mother Road Route 66 Winslow Holbrook Petrified Forest National Park.Inspir http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Lake-Havasu-City/blog-131797.html When Sunday 11th FebWhat Peak over the PeninsulaWhere San Bruno Mountain State County ParkDistance 4.9 milesAnother hike from 101 hikes in Northern CARain in the bay area Much awaited but not welcomed this weekend Rained like hell on Saturday. Sunday's forecast spelled rain but sky seemed to clear out at least near home.Late start nevertheless we started We took the scenic I280 to http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/Pacifica/blog-128843.html When 28th Jan 2007Where El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space PreserveWhat getting back in time into a historic Redwood forestThis hike was an instant pick in 10 minutes.Almost 30 miles from home. almost halfpoint between hwy 92 hwy 84 on CA 35.It was sunny when we started from home. But as we neared the coast I could hardly see the mountains amidst all that fog. By the time we got onto CA 92 http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Mateo/blog-123747.html